Chapter Seventy Seven
Chapter Seventy Seven
The next morning at McCallen Manor was greeted by the gray London sky hanging low, like a weight pressing down the air. Arion stood in his study, gazing at the organizational structure map of McCallen Hotels mounted on the wall. The faces attached to it—Harriet, several board members, and now Philippe Vasseur—began to resemble chess pieces in a much larger game.
A soft knock came at the study door.
“Come in,” Arion said without turning.
Simon stepped inside, his face serious. “The car is ready. Tonight’s meeting with the two board members will be held at a private club in Knightsbridge. But there’s one more thing.”
Arion turned, raising an eyebrow.
“Hazel,” Simon said briefly. “She wants to meet. Says she has something important. She refuses to speak over the phone.”
Arion tensed slightly. That name was like an old wound ripped open again. Hazel Lockwood—the former family financial assistant, and someone he once trusted, before everything changed.
“I don’t have time for her emotional games,” Arion muttered coldly.
Simon watched him carefully. “But the information she brings might strengthen our position.”
Arion exhaled slowly. “Fine. I’ll see her after the board meeting. Make sure it’s a neutral location.”
Night fell sooner than expected. The exclusive club hosting the meeting looked quiet from the outside, but inside, a private room with dim lighting awaited Arion and two older men: Richard Monroe and Bennett Hale—long-serving board members known for their loyalty to Arion’s father.
“Thank you for coming,” Arion said as he took a seat across from them. Simon stood behind him, like a loyal shadow.
Monroe leaned in. “We’re tired of Harriet’s games too. But she has legal backing from that appointment letter.”
“I know,” Arion replied, pulling several documents from the leather folder in his hands. “But I believe there was administrative fraud in the appointment process. Philippe Vasseur—a shadowy lawyer from France—was involved in submitting these documents. He used connections in Switzerland to mask the validation process. I have preliminary proof.”
Bennett picked up the documents and skimmed them quickly. His eyes widened. “This could turn the tide if you can prove Harriet conspired with outside parties.”
Arion nodded. “And for that, I need you. We can call an emergency board meeting next week. But I can’t do this alone.”
Monroe and Bennett exchanged looks. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, Monroe said, “You have our support.”
After the meeting, Arion asked Simon to drop him off at an old café in Southbank—where Hazel insisted on meeting. A light drizzle fell, wetting the asphalt and reflecting the dim glow of streetlights. The café was quiet, with only one table occupied.
Hazel sat there, wearing a dark blue coat and a wool scarf. Her gaze lifted as Arion entered. There was pain, regret, and resolve in her eyes.
“Thank you for coming,” she said softly.
Arion sat down without returning her smile. “Get to the point.”
Hazel took a breath, then pulled out a large brown envelope. She slid it across the table to Arion. “These are Harriet’s personal transaction records. Most are in offshore accounts under shell company names. But I found links to an investment firm—Darvin & Cloutier, which also appears in Philippe Vasseur’s documents.”
Arion opened it and scanned the contents quickly. His head shot up.
“How did you get this?”
Hazel looked down. “I… kept a copy. I knew for a long time that Harriet couldn’t be trusted. But I was afraid. And I also… knew you didn’t trust me anymore.”
Arion stared at her silently.
Hazel continued, her voice shaking. “I don’t want regret to be my legacy. You may never forgive me, but let me make it right with this.”
Arion studied the documents intently. If they were authentic, not only could he revoke Harriet’s mandate—he could take her to court.
After a few minutes of silence, Arion stood. “I’ll have this verified. If it checks out, everything changes.”
Hazel nodded slowly. “Will you bring McCallen back to where it was?”
“No,” Arion replied. “I’ll take it to somewhere better.”
The next day, the atmosphere at McCallen Manor shifted. Arion held a private meeting with the family’s long-sidelined lawyer, James Corbin—an older man with sharp legal instincts.
“If we can link Darvin & Cloutier to illicit transactions and show Philippe Vasseur had direct ties to them,” Corbin said as he sipped his coffee, “then Harriet’s appointment letter could be ruled invalid under UK law.”
Arion nodded. “Prepare the paperwork. I’ll file for a temporary injunction against Harriet until a full investigation is complete.”
By dusk, Harriet knocked on Arion’s study door—uninvited. She entered with a cold smile.
“I hear you’ve been making rounds, Arion. Fishing for support. Rebuilding your little empire.”
Arion looked at her calmly. “You’re wrong. I’m not rebuilding an empire. I’m cleaning a house overrun with rats.”
Harriet narrowed her eyes. “You won’t win. Philippe is more powerful than you think.”
Arion stood and stepped closer, whispering coldly, “And you’re too foolish to realize I was never going to sit back.”
A few days later, in the main boardroom of McCallen Hotels, all board members gathered. The crystal chandelier cast a tense light over the room. Harriet sat on the right, dressed in white with a confident expression. Across from her, Arion stood tall with Simon behind him and documents in hand.
“This emergency meeting is convened to investigate the legality of Harriet McCallen’s appointment as executive supervisor,” announced James Corbin to the room.
Harriet smirked. “This is a waste of everyone’s time.”
But Arion dropped the documents onto the long mahogany table. “These are proofs of abuse of power, cross-border conspiracy, and involvement with illicit entities—violating corporate ethics.”
All eyes turned to Harriet, then to the documents. Silence enveloped the room before Monroe spoke. “We’ll need time to verify this. But if it’s legitimate… then Harriet, you’ll be suspended pending investigation.”
For the first time, Harriet’s face turned pale.